Boston Bruins @ Toronto Maple Leafs
07:00 PM at Scotiabank Arena
Watch on: NESN, TVAS, SN
The Leafs last game was at home on March 2 against the New York Rangers, which Toronto won by a score of 4-3 in a shootout. The Leafs have a record of 35-17-8 for a 0.650 Points %.
The Boston Bruins last played away on March 2 against the New York Islanders. The Bruins lost by a score of 5-1 in regulation, and their current league record is 35-13-14 for a 0.677 Points %.
Them
The Leafs play their final two games against the Bruins this week, and for this first game the story is injuries.
Boston are missing Hampus Lindholm, who is week-to-week, Matt Grzelcyk, who is day-to-day, and Pavel Zacha who is a gametime decision after leaving the last game in the first half.
The Bruins, when they're all healthy, are a very mediocre five-on-five team who have stayed in in the middle of the pack in the NHL in Expected Goals % as the Leafs have risen up a little.
They put up good quality offence, have good systems an okay power play, but nothing like how it used to be. They aren't at all how they used to be. Their defence is tepid, and they are just okay at most things they used to excel at. They get by on goaltending and and that killer top line.
Lines
Last Game (03/02) via Daily Faceoff
Brad Marchand - Charlie Coyle - David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk - Pavel Zacha - Jake DeBrusk
Danton Heinen - Morgan Geekie - Trent Frederic
Jakub Lauko - Jesper Boqvist - Marc McLaughlin
Parker Wotherspoon - Charlie McAvoy
Mason Lohrei - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Kevin Shattenkirk
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
Us
Judging by morning skate, the Leafs are actually getting less injured. Ilya Lyubushkin was present, and Timothy Liljegren seems to be permanently back.
The lineup is unchanged from last game.
Lines
David Alter via Daily Faceoff
Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
Tyler Bertuzzi - Max Domi - William Nylander
Bobby McMann - John Tavares - Calle Järnkrok
Pontus Holmberg - David Kämpf - Ryan Reaves
T.J. Brodie - Timothy Liljegren
Morgan Rielly - Ilya Lyubushkin
Simon Benoit - Jake McCabe
Ilya Samsonov - starter
Joe Woll
The Game
The Bruins are beatable, and they are very, very similar to the New York Rangers. The Leafs actually had no trouble outplaying the Rangers at five-on-five and they can do that to Boston too. The Boston power play is nothing like the weapon the Rangers have, but it's still a good idea to play more five-on-five against this team.
